Polaris 380 vs Polaris 3900: Which One’s Best?

If you own a swimming pool, you know it can be quite challenging to keep it clean, especially if you have vegetation nearby. Pressure cleaners can be extremely effective, and they work with the existing pool motor, so you don’t need to power them. The Polaris 380 and 3900 are both popular pool cleaning models that look similar and work well. If you are thinking about getting one of these cleaning robots but would like to know more about them to see which one is better for your situation, keep reading while we take a close look at both and compare their features to help you make an informed purchase.

At a Glance

Let’s look at the key points of each product.

Overview of Polaris 380:

The Polaris 380 is an extremely popular automatic pool cleaner that uses three venturi jets to help clean your pool faster than other brands, and once you get it set up, the robot will clean your pool in about 3 hours. In addition, an all-wheel-drive belt makes it less likely that the robot will get stuck, and it works in all in-ground pools regardless of the shape. The 31-foot feed hose gives it plenty of range, and the single large compartment chamber bag picks up plenty of debris before you need to empty it. It works automatically to clean the floor, walls, and steps without requiring you to stand there watching it.

The downside to the Polaris 380 is that the hose can get tangled, interfering with the effectiveness of the machine, especially when the pool isn’t round as it can get trapped in corners. On occasion, you need to unravel the hose to extend its reach, which can slow cleaning time, especially if you catch tangles quickly.

Overview of Polaris 3900:

The Polaris 3900 is an extremely powerful robot cleaner that has a dual-chambered bag that can hold up to 5 liters of debris that it captures in your pool. It’s not limited to sand or bugs and can pick up leaves, pebbles, and even acorns and hold them securely until you empty them. It has three venturi jets for fast cleaning, and most owners report their pool clean in about three hours. All-wheel drive means it doesn’t get stuck, and it uses a stainless-steel belt that won’t rust or stretch while it provides more torque. The 31-foot feed hose is long enough for most pools, and it does an excellent job cleaning floors, stairs, and walls. If it does get stuck, its auto-reverse technology can help it free itself.

The downside to the Polaris 3900 is that the pro hose that comes with this model is prone to leaking, which can reduce the effectiveness of the cleaning, and while the hose does help the machine get stuck less frequently, it can still get tangled on occasion.

What Are The Differences Between Them?

Design

Both the Polaris 3900 and the Polaris 380 are well-designed pool cleaners that can help you keep your water clean all summer long. The Polaris 3900 is larger, but it weighs less, and it features a dual-chamber bag, which helps it collect up to 5 liters of debris. The automatic reverse helps it get free when stuck, and the stainless-steel drive belt provides more torque and durability than what you will get from the Polaris 380. The one downside is that the hose on the 3900 seems to be less durable.

Price

The Polaris 380 wins the price war as it’s usually about $100 cheaper.

Suction Power

The Polaris 3900 and the Polaris 380 pool cleaners use three venturi jets for improved cleaning, so the suction power of each machine is about equal and should be enough to clean your pool in about 3 hours.

Cleaning Ability

The Polaris 3900 has slightly better cleaning ability than the 380 because they both have the same suction power, but the 3900 has a larger bag for storing debris. The wheels are also larger, providing better traction in the stainless-steel drive belt and improves torque, so the machine struggles much less to reach the debris and can pick it up faster and more effectively. The auto-reverse, while not perfect, helps cut down the number of times the machine gets tangled.

What the Users Say

We searched the Internet to find what other people were saying about these machines, and we found some reviews of the Polaris 3900 and the Polaris 380.

Most people give the Polaris 380 a five-star review and say the machine works great.

Most people give the Polaris 3900 a five-star review and say it works great.

Many people complain that both models get tangled frequently in the pool.

Many people complained about problems they had with the hose of the Polaris 3900.

Some people say these machines last several years, while others complain that they break down quickly.

Some people mention the collection bag is easy to install in the Polaris 380

Several people said it’s easy to install the Polaris 380.

Several people mentioned they liked the auto-reverse technology and Polaris 3900.

A few people complain that the leaves can clog the Polaris 380 collection bag.

A few people complained the Polaris 3900 is expensive.

Conclusion

We believe that the Polaris 3900 it’s slightly better than the Polaris 380. Both tools have the same suction power, but the 3900 has auto-reverse a dual-chamber filter bag and larger tires that help it traverse your pool easier. It thoroughly cleans any pool, including the floor walls and steps in as little as three hours, and the 31-foot feed hose is long enough for most pools.

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